RETORTS.
109
work of charging, and discharging a bench of seven retorts, will not occupy more thantwenty minutes. This dexterity is of course only acquired by long practice, and the workis very severe, but the time allowed for rest while the process of carbonizing is going on ismore than double the time the men are actually at work. At large gas-works, each mancarbonizes from five to six tons of coal in a day, while in small establishments, where ironretorts are used, the quantity often does not exceed 25 cwt.
The production of gas commences the moment the coal enters the heated retort, andbefore the men can secure the lids flames issue from the mouth-pieces, indicating the lossof some gas in the operation.
The following is a detailed estimate for taking down and resetting a bench of five iron Dretorts, including the main arch :—
£. s.
5 D retorts, each weighing 13 cwt., at £7. 10s. per ton . .24 7
1 Man, jointing mouth-pieces and pipes, 3£ days at os. . . 0 17
300 Square Newcastle fire-bricks at 10s. . . . . . 1 10
150 Arch ditto . . . . . • • ■ • . 0 15
25 Split ditto 0 2
12 Fire-tiles, at 4s. 6 d. . . . . . • • . 2 14
20 Fire-tiles, at Is. 6 d. . . . . . . • . 1 10
100 Pavior bricks for front, at 6s. . . . . • .06
500 Stocks for filling bed, at 5s. . . . . . .15
8 Bushels of lime and sand, at 7^d. . . . . .05
^ Ton of Newcastle clay, at 30s. . . . . .0 15
1 Labourer, taking down old retorts, clearing away, and cleaning
bricks, six days, at 3s. . . . . .0 18
1 Bricklayer and 1 labourer, resetting and finishing, six days
at 9s. . . . . . . . . .2 14
\ Cwt. of cement for joints, at 7s. . . . . . .03
£38 3
d.
6
6
0
0
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
The products of a ton of Newcastle coal, distilled in retorts set in the manner justdescribed, and the quantity of fuel used for the distillation, will be as follows:—
Berwick’s Wallsend.
Gas of specific gravity ‘400 ....
. 8650
cubic fe
Coke of good quality .....
14
cwt.
Ammoniacal liquor .....
. 124
gallons.
Thick tar .......
12
ditto.
Tar used as fuel ......
19
ditto.
Lime for purifying .....
86
lbs.
Hetton Main.
Gas of specific gravity ‘390 ....
. 8690
cubic fe
Coke of good quality .....
31
bushels.
Ammoniacal liquor .....
101• ±~4
gallons.